What other scriptures highlight God's use of alliances to fulfill His plans? God’s Blueprint in 1 Kings 5:9 “‘My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you designate. There I will break them apart, and you can take them away. And you shall meet my needs by providing food for my household.’” (1 Kings 5:9) Solomon’s treaty with Hiram shows the Lord weaving international cooperation into His temple plan. Old-Testament Snapshots of Divine Alliances • Joseph & Pharaoh – Genesis 45:7-8: “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant… Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God.” • Israel & Egyptians – Exodus 12:36: “And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians… and they plundered the Egyptians.” • Joshua & Gibeon – Joshua 9:15, 27: “Joshua made peace with them and cut a covenant… That day he made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD.” • David & Hiram – 2 Samuel 5:11: “Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.” • Judah & Cyrus – Ezra 1:2-3: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven… has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem… Whoever belongs to His people, let him go up.’” • Nehemiah & Artaxerxes – Nehemiah 2:8: “…And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.” • Esther & Ahasuerus – Esther 8:17: “And many of the peoples of the land became Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.” • Nebuchadnezzar as God’s instrument – Jeremiah 27:6: “Now I have given all these lands into the hand of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” New-Testament Echoes • Centurion & Jewish elders – Luke 7:4-5: “He is worthy… for he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.” • Paul & Roman protection – Acts 18:10: “For I am with you… no one will lay a hand on you,” and Acts 23:24: “Provide mounts so that Paul may be brought safely to Governor Felix.” • Priscilla-Aquila & Apollos – Acts 18:26-27: believers partnering to refine theology and advance the gospel. Threads That Tie the Stories Together • God moves both friends and foreigners to resource His people. • Alliances never override divine sovereignty; they showcase it. • Even unlikely partners (Nebuchadnezzar, Roman officials) become instruments for covenant purposes. • The pattern invites confidence that present-day partnerships, wisely discerned, can still advance God’s kingdom agenda. |
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